Tax Favored Benefits Makes Donation to OSU-Technician Training Program!

Ask any group of farm and industrial equipment dealers about the biggest challenges they face, and the lack of qualified service technicians is a frequent answer. Each year, as equipment becomes more technologically advanced, the need for skilled technicians grows. SouthWestern Association is addressing this problem with the new Industrial and Farm Equipment Technician Program at Oklahoma State University  Institute of Technology.

The program trains dealership technicians who are:

•  Trained on current industrial and farm equipment

• Trained in the latest diagnostic and servicing procedures

• Trained with a positive attitude about the job.

This program is a planned dealership personnel development program. 

Program Structure

Students that enroll in the two-year, six-semester program spend approximately one-half of their time in technical and academic education at Oklahoma State University  Institute of Technology. The remaining time is allocated for on-the -job experience at the sponsoring member dealership. This means the student spends about 7.5 weeks on campus and the next 7.5 weeks back at the dealership. It is essential for the success of the program that the students’ education at OSU Institute of Technology and dealership work experience be closely aligned for maximum student learning and retention.

Students are required to have a sponsoring SouthWestern Association member dealership prior to enrollment in the program. The internship allows students to apply, in a real world setting, what they have learned during the previous classroom/lab sessions. In addition, students become familiar with the dealership environment, its organizational structure and the competencies that are expected of a professional service technician. 

What Dealers Should Do Now

Interested association members should take action immediately to become part of the program:

• Agree to act as a sponsoring dealership

• Appoint an in-dealership coordinator

• Recruit, interview and select prospective students

• Provide dealership coordinated internship experience in accordance with the program schedule for the duration of the curriculum

• Provide related work/learning experience that supplements the students’ most recent on­campus education

• Agree to pay the student during periods of dealership internships

All tuition, fees, textbooks, travel expenses and housing costs are the responsibility of the student. 

How to Recruit

Dealers frequently ask where to find technician candidates. The best place to recruit is in your hometown. Participate in career days at the local high school or community college and find young people interested in pursuing a career in your hometown. You might also check with your employees, friends and customers to see if they know someone who would be a good candidate. As you know, service technicians are highly skilled employees that are important to the growth of your dealership. Recruits need to understand this is a position of importance and display a willingness to make the investment of time and resources to develop into this career.

Program Timeline

• NOW – Recruit Students

• April - June – Complete Student Selection Process

• September – Classes Begin (20 students needed for class)

The Web site address is http://www.osu-okmulgee.edu/

For more information contact Jeff Flora (jflora@swassn.com) or Tag Webb (twebb@swassn.com )